VOA Radiogram schedule, March 11-12

Hello friends,

Apologies for the mix-up in the images transmitted last weekend. I was in too much of a hurry while preparing the VOA Radiogram demonstration at the Winter SWL Fest. It was good to meet some of you there!

Two weeks ago, we were impressed with the performance of the MFSK16 mode in difficult reception conditions.  We will include MFSK16 again this weekend, but we will compare it to another 58-wpm mode, Olivia 8-1000. The same AP news story will be sent in each mode. Note that MFSK16 is 316 Hz wide, while Olivia 8-1000 is 1000 Hz wide. After the RSID for each mode will be a 15-second tuning signal, in case you need to manually set the mode and/or center audio frequency.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 206, 11-12 March 2017, all in MFSK32 except where noted:

 1:51  Program preview (now)
 3:09  China seeks international law for Internet control*
10:07  North Korea bans overseas citizens from mobile Internet*
18:18  MFSK16: Satellite maps lightning flashes
21:55  Olivia 8-1000: Satellite maps lightning flashes
25:18  MFSK32: VOA tweet on International Women's Day*
27:15  Closing announcements

* with image

Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com.

VOA Radiogram transmission schedule (temporarily expanded) (listeners in most of North America note that transmissions Sunday at 1930 UTC and after will be one hour later by local time):

UTC Day	UTC Time	kHz	Transmitter	Target	Also try in …
Saturday	0930-1000	5865	North Carolina	Americas	Asia-Pacific, Europe
Saturday	1600-1630	17580	North Carolina	Europe	Americas, Asia-Pacific
Sunday	0230-0300	5745	North Carolina	Americas	Europe
Sunday	1930-2000	15670	North Carolina	Europe	Americas, Asia-Pacific
Sunday	2030-2100	11580	WRMI Florida	Europe	Americas
Sunday	2330-2400	11580	WRMI Florida	Americas
Monday	2000-2030	3975	IBC Italy	Europe
Wednesday	2100-2130	3975	IBC Italy	Europe

The Mighty KBC broadcast to North America will be Sunday at 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 7-9 pm EST) on 6145 kHz, via Germany. A minute of MFSK32 will be transmitted at about 0130 UTC. Reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com . See also http://www.kbcradio.eu/ and https://www.facebook.com/TheMightyKbc/ . 

DigiDX is taking a few weeks off, hence the VOA Radiogram transmissions via WRMI and IBC.  See http://www.digidx.uk/ and https://www.facebook.com/digidx/

Italian Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) has digital modes as follows:
EVERY WEDNESDAY ON 3975 KHZ 20.30-21.00 UTC in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500
EVERY FRIDAY ON 9955 KHZ 02.25-02.30 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SATURDAY ON 1584 KHZ 21.25-21.30 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 7730 KHZ 00.55-01.00 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 6070 KHZ 11.30-12.00 UTC  in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500 (VIA RADIO BCLNEWS)
For the complete IBC transmission schedule, including voice broadcasts, visit  http://ibcradio.webs.com/

Winter SWL Fest.  I am planning to attend the Winter SWL Fest, March 2-4, 2017, at Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. Hope to see you there. Information at  http://www.swlfest.com .  (Single-day walk-ins are welcome.)

Thanks for your reception reports from last weekend, especially because I was not able tune in to most of the broadcasts while attending  the Winter SWL Fest (and because of terrible shortwave reception in my hotel room).

I'll try to get back on track this weekend responding to your reports.


I hope you can tune in (especially because I may not be able to) and write in this weekend.

Kim Andrew Elliott, KD9XB

Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
voaradiogram.net

Twitter: @VOARadiogram  (especially active just before, during, and after broadcasts)

  

PS: A few operating notes:

• For best Olivia 64-2000 performance, turn Fldigi's squelch (SQL) off.
• The RSID at 1500 Hz sometimes mixes with the transmitter hum, most noticeable at 360 Hz, to move your receive audio frequency down to 1140 Hz, resulting in no decode. To prevent this, in Fldigi: Configure > IDs  > RsID > unselect Searches passband.  Your center audio frequency will wander no more than +/- 200 Hz.
• Fldigi automatically saves your decoded MFSK images as png files in the folder \fldigi.files\images\ (in Windows; folder names might be different with other operating systems). You can attach those png files with your reception report.
• The VOA Radiogram Twitter account @VOARadiogram is especially active before, during, and after the broadcasts. You don't need a Twitter account: just go to https://twitter.com/voaradiogram and refresh it occasionally.